Auburndale Dethrones Osceola

The No. 1-ranked Kowboys Fumbled Three Times In The Second Half In A 28-21 Loss.

October 31, 1998|By Frank Carroll, of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE - Osceola gave away 21 points on three second-half fumbles and was upset, 28-21, by Auburndale on Friday night before a shell-shocked full house at Kowboy Field.

``You can't do that and win against a good football team,'' said Osceola Coach Jim Scible. ``We had opportunity after opportunity and couldn't capitalize.''

Ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, Osceola's last opportunity came after Ernest Varnado recovered a fumble at Auburndale's 9-yard line. Four plays later, with 85 seconds left, tackle Richard Erickson knocked Willie Green out of bounds at the 6-inch line to preserve the upset.

``I hit him hard. That's Auburndale football,'' Erickson said.

``It's big. It's very big,'' said Coach Ken Harrison of Auburndale (7-1), No. 10-ranked in Class 4A. ``We got some big breaks against a very good football team.''

Osceola was in command until, for a second straight week, a kickoff fumbled at its goal line signaled the beginning of the end. After the miscue, Leo Etienne sneaked across to cut Osceola's lead to 15-13 one play into the third quarter.

Osceola answered behind Green (184 yards, 34 carries). His second touchdown hiked the Kowboys' lead to 21-13. It was the offense's last hurrah. Osceola fumbled on its next three possessions, and Auburndale converted two into touchdowns.

The most hurtful turnover came after Allen ``Tank'' Reese (135 yards, 19 carries) scored after the Kowboys' third fumble. On the fourth, Jamar Brown scooped up Bobby Sippio's fumble and raced 47 yards for a 28-21 lead with eight minutes left.

Early on, Osceola was dominant. Sippio capped a 72-yard drive with a 12-yard bootleg pass to tight end Matt Quinter.

Auburndale answered with Reese, a 265-pound fullback, who finished an 80-drive with a 7-yard score.